Christians: Do you think when you witness to atheists...?

Question

that the encounter is controlled by you or God? I'm asking this because I seem to get oh-so-many athiests e-mailing me, telling me "Thanks for continuing to disprove Christianity," "You people make it so easy to not believe in God."(That was my favorite) Someone must have told them that I care? The Gospel is totally offensive; its central message is deny yourself(realize your sin) and rely on Christ. We are called to preach the Gospel, not save people. People can't save people, only God has this ability.

To the point--do you think your witnessing is dependent on you or God's divine will? ie. Do you think, since God has used less than noble means to get His point across in the past, that He can use ANYONE with basic Biblical knowledge?

This passage(I'll select some verses) prompted these thoughts: 1Cor.1

" 26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

"20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. "

"18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.""

Answer 1

I believe God directs me to witness when it comes to answering questions on YA. I also believe God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the CALLED - and ALL of us who have accepted Christ as our savior are called to witness to His glory! If you are receiving messages like those, then God bless you for doing such a good job in your witnessing! You planted the seed, now sit back and see what God does with it! We won't see the fruits of most of our witnessing until we get to Heaven, so just go where God tells you and say what He puts on your heart! SOMEBODY needs to hear it or God wouldn't have put it on your heart in the first place.

And you're absolutely right - the biggest problem most people have with Christianity is that it requires us to DIE TO SELF and rely on Jesus / the Holy Spirit to guide us! People don't like that dying to self stuff - the flesh is too greedy!

Answer 2

You are absolutely correct when you say that we can not save anyone. We can plant the seed but God waters it.

Revelation 12:11, They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;

Of course God uses Christians to further promote His love to those who are not Christians. We are the hands and feet of Christ.

Ignore what they say many are led to Christ by the power of His blood and our testimony.

Answer 3

The planting of the truth or seed is my work.It is up to God which one will or will not take root.I've met past scoffers that have become Christians years after I've shared the Gospel with them.But I don't concern myself with numbers or immediate results.

Answer 4

I believe we need to walk our talk and love other people. That, my friend, is witnessing. If someone sees something in us that they want and ask questions, then we have the opportunity to share our faith. When that happens, it is ordained by God - not us.

You don't have to preach to someone to witness - Blessings

Answer 5

I witness by my actions and I do Care about all people.

You really should care if your actions are keeping people away from Jesus. We will be judged by our actions and how we helped our fellow man.

Being self-riotous and judgmental is setting yourself up for a fall.

We are supposed to be HUMBLE followers of Christ.

Peace and God Bless you!

Answer 6

When we witness to anyone..... regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs, if we do not prepare our hearts and ask God's help we are controlled by our means and that can be dangerous. We should always be prepared and ask God's guidance and help.

Answer 7

Looks like God's gonna drop the ball here, then.

Do you really credit God with your being such a crashing bore?

Answer 8

don't you get tired of bashing christians, let us have some interesting revelations from you on Jews and Hindus...
PLEASE!!!
I want your take on the Torah and the writings of Shinto Buddhism, surely you can say something biting about both, no?

Answer 9

yeah you people DO make it easy not to believe in god because i'm sure if there WAS a god he'd disapprove of people who can't mind their own business and "preach" when unnecessary...atleast a god in his right mind would! lol

Answer 10

i never 'witness' to them, i believe and thats all that matters to me. Am I supposed to CARE what they believe. Not happening.

Only I live my life, not them.
Only I raise my kids, not them.
As long as they're fine with their non belief so am I. If they don't bother me I don't bother them.